Embracing Uncertainty and Finding Purpose Through Innovation 

By Lilah Grom

For as long as I can remember, I wanted to study computer science. My dad works in technology, and when I was younger, he would occasionally take me to work with him. Walking through his office, I quickly noticed how few women were there. Even as a child, that absence stood out to me. Instead of discouraging me, it motivated me. I wanted to take up space in a field where women were underrepresented and prove to myself that I belonged. By the time I arrived at the University of Florida as a Computer Science major in the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering, that goal felt deeply personal. 

As I progressed through my coursework, however, doubt began to surface. While I enjoyed the technical side of computing, I found myself increasingly curious about what existed beyond the code. I started asking questions about how technology is applied within organizations, how it supports decision making, and how it creates value in the real world. I realized I didn’t just want to build systems; I wanted to understand their broader impact. Acknowledging that doubt was difficult, especially when computer science had long been tied to my identity and expectations I had set for myself. 

Around the same time, my perspective shifted in an unexpected way. I was involved in a serious car accident that forced me to slow down both physically and mentally. During recovery, I had time to reflect and reevaluate what truly mattered to me. That experience reminded me that progress isn’t always linear and that it’s okay to pause and reassess your direction. Gaining that perspective made me more open to questioning my path rather than pushing forward simply because it felt familiar. 

The Innovation Academy played a pivotal role in helping me navigate that uncertainty. Through IA, I learned to think about technology beyond code, with a strong focus on adaptability and real-world impact. Instead of feeling pressured to have everything figured out, IA gave me the space to ask meaningful questions about my interests and long-term goals. 

As I continued through the Innovation Academy, I found myself increasingly drawn to the 

intersection of business and technology. I realized that what excited me most wasn’t just writing code, but using technology to solve organizational problems. That realization ultimately led me to switch my major to Management Information Systems. While the decision was initially intimidating, it felt right. MIS offered the balance I had been searching for: technical understanding paired with business strategic thinking. Switching majors wasn’t a step away from technology; it was a step toward using it more intentionally. 

Within IA, I also chose the Artificial Intelligence track to further explore how technology can drive meaningful change. The AI track taught me to think critically about data, automation, and intelligent systems while also considering ethical implications. 

This summer, I had the amazing opportunity to intern as a Technical Accelerator Consultant at ServiceNow in their Orlando office. The clarity I gained through IA and the AI track became especially evident during my internship. Entering a fast-paced enterprise technology environment, I felt prepared to engage in conversations around automation, analytics, and AI-driven solutions. My background in computer science and MIS provided a strong technical foundation, while my MIS coursework and IA experiences helped me understand how those technologies fit into larger business processes. 

After my graduation in the spring, I’ll begin my career at ServiceNow as a Technical Accelerator Consultant—confident, adaptable, and ready to create impact thanks to Innovation Academy.